John Green serves as the President and CEO of Iredell Health System, a role in which he has overseen significant growth and development. His journey into healthcare leadership began with personal experiences in physical therapy following a knee injury during high school. This interest led him to pursue a degree in physical therapy at Marquette University, followed by an MBA from the University of Akron.
Green’s career has spanned various leadership roles across Ohio and Pennsylvania, including managing rehab services at a 700-bed hospital in Pittsburgh. He emphasizes the impact of nonprofit healthcare, stating, “It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever gotten to experience. Money wasn’t the focus.”
In 2000, Green joined Iredell Health System as Vice President of Operations, eventually becoming Chief Operating Officer in 2018 and President & CEO in 2019 after Ed Rush’s retirement. Reflecting on his tenure, Green notes their COVID-19 response as particularly memorable: “Our response to COVID sticks out. We truly took care of the community and took care of each other.”
Under his leadership, Iredell Health System has expanded significantly, adding new facilities and services while growing its workforce to over 2,000 employees. Green attributes this growth to their community-focused approach: “If you don’t grow in this environment, you will get swallowed up.”
Throughout his career, Green has witnessed shifts towards wellness-based healthcare but also challenges posed by insurance companies: “Healthcare has certainly become more wellness based… The most challenging change is the amount of power and frustration insurance companies have created.”
Locally, Green discusses future plans for Iredell’s Mooresville campus and Davis Regional Medical Center: “Our first building on the Iredell Mooresville campus is now filled… As for Davis… What do we do next in addition to behavioral health?”
His commitment extends beyond professional duties; he actively participates in community organizations like the Statesville Chamber of Commerce and Fifth Street Ministries. He views his work as an extension of his upbringing: “I grew up in a household that was always active for the community and for others.”
Green maintains an open-door policy at work: “One of the most common comments I get about Iredell is that you don’t meet one person that doesn’t smile and say hello.” Despite living locally where feedback is readily available even outside work settings, he values these interactions as opportunities.
Looking ahead to retirement someday, Green hopes to leave behind a legacy of local healthcare excellence: “The most important thing I want to leave behind is for the community to receive local healthcare they can be proud of.”
Outside work hours are spent golfing or hiking with family members including Lily – their Cava Tzu dog – while maintaining involvement with organizations such as Premier Incorporated’s Community Hospital Executive Leadership Council.
Iredell Health System comprises multiple facilities offering diverse medical services throughout North Carolina under its nonprofit mission statement aiming “to inspire wellbeing.”
